The 11th Armored Cavalry Veterans of Vietnam and Cambodia

DONALD G “RUSTY” LEPPER

Safari
Date He Passed Away: NOVEMBER 16, 2021
Unit ( Sqd/Trp ) Served: HOWITZER BATTERY, 2nd SQDN, 11th ACR
What Year of Service: 1969-70
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Flowers or Donation Information: ST JUDES RESEARCH HOSPITAL FOR CHILDREN

Donald “Rusty” George Lepper, age 85, of Danbury, passed away at his home on November 16, 2021. He was born in Trenton, Nebraska to William and Neva (Otis) Lepper on January 14, 1936; he was one of 12 children in the Lepper family. Rusty attended school in McCook.

Rusty enlisted in the United States Air Force in January of 1954, shortly after leaving high school. In 1967, he separated from military service for a short time and worked in the oil fields, but soon felt the pull of his patriotic duty once again and reenlisted in the United States Army. Rusty retired as a Staff Sergeant on February 28, 1974, after over 20 years of service. He served mostly as a Field Artillery Crewman and his career took him all over the world. He was stationed in Alaska and many other locations in the continental United States. Rusty also served in England, Germany, Scotland, Korea, and Vietnam. For his service in Vietnam, Rusty received the following decorations and citations: the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with five Bronze Service Stars, Five Overseas Bars, the Vietnam Campaign Medal with 60 Device, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, a Purple Heart, a Bronze Star with a Double Oak Leaf Cluster, the Army Commendation Medal, and the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm. This is just a brief list of duty stations and awards that Rusty compiled during his lifetime of honorable service in the United States Military. He proudly served as a Staff Sergeant, E-6, in the Howitzer Battery, 2nd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment (the Legendary Blackhorse Regiment) in the Vietnam War in 1969-70. He was a Life Member of the 11th ACVVC.

Rusty returned to Red Willow County, Nebraska after his retirement. He worked for many area farmers and tended bar at local establishments. He was a member of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars. Rusty enjoyed hunting deer and pheasants and fished many of the reservoirs around McCook. He was a member of the Eagles Club in McCook and enjoyed catching up with friends over a beer at any of the area bars. Rusty loved watching a good football game and he enjoyed smoking his cigars.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, William Lepper; sister, Betty Harper; sister, Marilyn Shadley and husband, Cork; sister, Charlotte Groothuis and husband, Gilbert; sister, Annette Snyder and husband, Bart; brother, Larry Lepper; sister, Carol Matson and husband, Don; nephew, Wade Lepper; niece, Pamela Valentine; and nephew, Donnie Lepper.

Survivors include his sister, Sandra Diederich and husband, Butch, of Oberlin, Kansas; brother, Mike Lepper and wife, Sherry, of McCook; sister, Laurie Dybdahl and husband, Sam, of McCook; sister-in-law, Lois Lepper of McCook; brother-in-law, Melvin Harper of Hastings, Nebraska; sister-in-law, Mary Lepper of California; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Memorial services will be held at 3:00 PM, Thursday afternoon, December 16, 2021 at Herrmann-Jones Funeral Chapel in McCook with Jim Jones and Michael Simmonds providing words of comfort. Committal services will take place at a later date at Fort McPherson National Cemetery in Maxwell, Nebraska with full military honors.

Memorials are suggested to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Rusty’s name. Online condolences may be left at herrmannfh.com. Herrmann-Jones Funeral Chapel is entrusted with arrangements.

Rest in peace Rusty.